Repulsion (1965) dir. Roman Polanski:
Polanski's first English-language film may not be the director's shining moment as far as dialogue goes, but the second half of the film demonstrates brilliantly that fear is universal. Catherine Deneuve stars as a young woman left to watch her sister's apartment while she and her boyfriend go on a vacation. While on her own, she experiences increasingly disturbing dreams that take an increasingly dark turn. After a sluggish, even tedious first half or so (did the calm before the storm need to be that long?), the film really takes off as Carole's mental state begins to deteriorate. The slightly jazzy score, often clashing with the images on screen, never outstays its welcome, always cutting off right when it starts to feel overdone. Deneuve, in a role that is silent for large stretches, turns in dazzling work, emoting almost purely through her eyes as a woman quite past the verge of a nervous breakdown. Enhanced by great in-camera effects (walls are used to fantastic effect), subtle but effective art direction, and excellent cinematography. While Polanski's film could easily be dissected in trying to figure out what makes Carole snap (I'm sure more than a few writers have used her virginity as a spring board for their theses), it also works strictly as a surface-only thriller: watch a young woman's downward spiral into madness. Though it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's certainly an unsettling film with some images that you'll have a difficult time forgetting.
Grade: B+
The Last Picture Show (1971) dir. Peter Bogdanovich:
Essentially a slightly more character-specific, American predecessor to Fellini's Amarcord, Bogdanovich's film is a sparse, bleak, yet very rewarding film. As we see follow a group of soon-to-be-high-school-graduates in Arnene, Texas as they come of age, Bogdanovich (working off of Larry McMurtry's adaptation of his own novel) crafts a methodically paced, understated film that builds. It it the epitome of what "quietly moving" cinema should aspire to; it has enough to make you feel, but never indulges in any jarring moments of blatant heart string-tugging. Performance-wise, there's not a weak link in the group, although I do slightly question Ellen Burstyn's Best Supporting Actress nomination. The same cannot be said for her co-star, Cloris Leachman, who picked up a well-deserved Oscar for her performance as a conflicted, adulterous house-wife. Just when the film leads you to believe that it's done with her, the end brings Leachman back to powerful effect. Fellow winner Ben Johnson also turns in nice, understated work as the father of a somewhat mentally deficient boy. His monologue when he takes his son and Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) to a nearby like is a thing of magnificent, quiet beauty, much like the film around him.
Grade: A/A-
The Red Balloon (1956) dir. Albert Lamorisse:
A small exercise in charm, Lamorisse's Oscar-winning film (which clocks in at only 34 minutes), is a winning example of how to use less to create more. The plot is simple: a balloon with a life of its own follows a young boy as he walks around Paris. And thankfully, that's all the film really does with the premise. You could speculate all you wanted to about deeper meaning, but the film seems to work best as an innocent (but not naive) fairy tale with a magnificent ending.
Grade: B
7 comments:
Thank you, that was extremely valuable and interesting...I will be back again to read more on this topic.
Top website, I hadn't noticed jbaker475movies.blogspot.com previously during my searches!
Keep up the superb work!
A shared spider's web hosting advantage or virtual hosting worship army or educe assemblage refers to a network hosting waiting where diverse websites reside on one trap server connected to the Internet. Each locale "sits" on its own break-up, or section/place on the server, to keep it separate from other sites. This is mainly the most close-fisted choice on account of hosting, as numerous people apportionment the complete cost of server maintenance.
[url=http://hostinghouse.pl]hosting[/url]
�?There are lots of other internet sites[url=http://www.officialnikeBillsstore.com]C.J. Spiller Jersey[/url]
significantly also a lot of to say[url=http://www.robertgriffiniiiJersey.net]Robert Griffin III Youth Jersey[/url]
that might be useful to you personally Thankfully[url=http://www.jjwattjersey.com]JJ Watt white Jersey[/url]
fans can now purchase NFL football jerseys from china for only a few dollars If you have any relatives or even business associates/clients that are based in Paris then you may feel the trip to France as being a bit too much effort to stay in touch as they aren't exactly down the road from you anymore
As of right now[url=http://www.officialnikeBillsjerseys.com]Steve Johnson Jersey[/url]
the Oakland Raiders are favored to win this Week 8 matchup with a -2 This is a great NFL football betting match-up There are a large number of retailers and dealers online who offer soccer jerseys and other soccer gear at reasonable prices
top [url=http://www.001casino.com/]free casino[/url] coincide the latest [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com/]free casino[/url] autonomous no store bonus at the foremost [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]baywatchcasino
[/url].
[url=http://longchampbagsd.hatenablog.com/]sac longchamp[/url] Questions are a Mulberry Elkington Natural Leather Briefcase Brown for Men,70% Discount Mulberry Handbags For Sale In our Mulberry Factory Shop. super-easy way to get answers from the Instructables community. Learn how to build, do, or make anything! You just ask a question and the community will provide answers. Feel free to look elsewhere for other such style bags, but many are completely unsuitable (big logos, leather not material, too stubby, or odd shaped) and were therefore not suited to the look I hoped to achieve..
[url=http://longchampsoldesa.overblog.com/]sac longchamps[/url] The latest charge airlines are hitting travelers with is a fee to carry a bag on the plane. This is on top of the fee charged to check a bag. So, unless you travel with no bags, you'll pay. People are chattering insanely having been attacked by Tridosh and are acting with unruliness. The vile results are for all to see. Cheap Mulberry Handbags on sale in our Mulberry Outlet with fast delivery, free shipping and no sale tax. Buy cheap Highly Appreciated Mulberry Women's Piccadilly Bayswater Printed Leather Shoulder Brown Bag here right now! In every arena be it individual, bodily, mental, family based, financial, social, religious etc there is nothing but mismanagement.
[url=http://ameblo.jp/longchamppli/]longchamp soldes[/url] you never know). My bag is from Rebecca Minkoff (you can see me wearing it in an outfit post here). This past week I got this super cute purse, courtesy of Ruche. If you are looking for designer handbags for yourself or for re-sale and do not want to pay expensive prices, there are many options. Many designer bags are available in a variety of ways and they do not include sacrificing a months pay check to get them. Follow the tips below to see how you can buy cheap Michael Kors handbags in a variety of stores.. Whether you aspire to surprise your mom, dad, relatives, friends, girlfriend, loved one or children, give them luxurious gifts and astonish them with your thoughtfulness. Valentine is a special and romantic occasion as it enlightens special moments while remembering sweet memories with your love. Outlet Sale Women's Mulberry Bayswater Trimming Oxford & Leather Tote Bag Light Coffee outlet sale, While booking your special luxury christmas gifts (Valentine gift - might be better considering christmas is past) online consider few gift ideas ideal for everyone as mentioned below:.
Logically, I agree
What remarkable words
In it something is also to me it seems it is excellent idea. Completely with you I will agree.
You are mistaken. I can defend the position. Write to me in PM, we will discuss.
Excellent idea
[url=http://abudawoodtc.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=12795&page=2&replies=32#post-114764][b]Cheap NHL Jerseys[/b][/url]
[url=http://happy.twwh.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1110&extra=][b]Cheap NHL Jerseys[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.fj211.com/plus/view.php?aid=142082][b]Cheap NHL Jerseys[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.tedacp.cn/plus/view.php?aid=293817][b]Cheap NHL Jerseys[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.weiwo.name/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=282851][b]Cheap NHL Jerseys[/b][/url]
Post a Comment